Impregnated laminated pad for mops

ABSTRACT

A pad or cloth for cleaning floors comprises a narrow rectangular pad folded about and fastened to a holder at the lower end of a handle. The pad comprises two outer layers and at least one intermediate layer, one of said outer layers being intended to abut the floor and consisting of a layer of synthetic fibre material such as non-woven rayon, and the other outer layer consisting of a film of plastics material such as polyethylene. The intermediate layer or layers consist of a cellular material which is premoistened with a liquid such as water and optionally admixed with a waxed emulsion.

United States Patent 11 1 Von Post et al.

[ July 29, 1975 IMPREGNATED LAMINATED PAD FOR MOPS [75] Inventors: JanAke Von Post, Sollentuna', Giista Erik Mauritz Petersson, Aneby, both ofSweden [73] Assignee: Landstingens lnkopscentral, Solna,

Sweden [22] Filed: Mar. 16, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 342,208

3,333,293 8/1967 Skurdelis 15/231 X 3,416,522 12/1968 Yeremian 128/296 X3,455,302 7/1969 Liloia 161/147 X 3,523,536 8/1970 Ruffo 128/296 X3,620,894 11/1971 Oates l6l/l47 X 3,674,613 7/1972 Lavigne 161/147 XFOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 646,075 1l/1950 United Kingdom 15/209 R664,694 1/1952 United Kingdom 15/231 Primary ExaminerDaniel BlumAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Arthur B. Colvin [57] ABSTRACT A pad or clothfor cleaning floors comprises a narrow rectangular pad folded about andfastened to a holder at the lower end of a handle. The pad comprises twoouter layers and at least one intermediate layer, one of said outerlayers being intended to abut the floor and consisting of a layer ofsynthetic fibre material such as non-woven rayon, and the other outerlayer consisting of a film of plastics material such as polyethylene.The intermediate layer or layers consist of a cellular material which ispremoistened with a liquid such as water and optionally admixed with awaxed emulsion.

1 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures SHEET FIG. 3

SHEET PATENTEI] JUL 2 9 I975 FIG 1 FIG 5 FIGS FlG7

IMPREGNATED LAMINATED PAD FOR MOPS The present invention relates to apad for mops of the type used for cleaning floors and the like, andparticularly for such pads for use in hospitals and similarestablishments where it is endeavoured to prevent the spread of bacteriafrom one ward to another.

It is known to the art to use such pads or cleaning cloth of moistureabsorbing material, which is folded around a holder located at the lowerend of the mop handle. The pad is intended to be passed over the floor,to collect dust and similar contaminants thereon together with anymoisture which might be present. The holder is nonnally lined with afoam rubber plate arranged on the face of the holder turned towards thefloor, so that the pad can be applied to the floor with a soft andconforming pressure. Since the known mop cloth or pad solely comprisesmoisture absorbing or moisture permeable layers, bacteria is able topenetrate the cloth and to reach the undersurface of the holder,wherewith the bacteria remain in the foam rubber when the pad ischanged. This means that the bacteria can be transferred to the new padwhen placed in position on the mop, with the result that the bacteriapresent in the foam rubber can be transferred to the next ward. Anotherdisadvantage associated with known mop structures resides in the factthat when the pad is to be changed, it is necessary to manually handlethe contaminated pad and since the bacteria may have penetrated throughthe pad there is a risk of such bacteria being transferred to the handsof the person handling the mop and from the hands of said person to thenew pad when it is placed on the mop holder. If bacteria are transferredfrom one patient to another there is an extreme risk of the thuscontaminated persons becoming extremely ill. Such illnesses if not fatalconsiderably extend the time during which such persons are hospitalized,thereby considerably increasing hospital costs.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the aforementioneddisadvantage and to provide a mop pad which, in addition to eliminatingsaid disadvantages, is also much stronger than mop pads of knownfabrication. The mop pad of the present invention is mainlycharacterized in that it comprises two outer layers and at least oneintermediate layer, wherewith one outer layer, which when in use isintended to lie in contact with the floor, comprises a layer ofsynthetic fibre material such as non-woven rayon and the outer layercomprises a film of plastics material, such as polyethylene, while theintermediate layer or layers comprises or comprise a cellular materialwhich is premoistened with liquid such as water, optionally having a waxemulsion admixed therewith. The three different materials incorporatedin the mop pad of the present invention co-act with each other in amanner which is particularly advantageous for the purpose in question.The layer of synthetic fibre, which is intended to abut the floor, isresistant to moisture and extremely resistant to wear. It thereforeprotects the inwardly positioned intermediate layer or layers ofcellular material, which is or are impregnated with moisture and whichshall retain a certain degree of moisteness when the pad is storedbefore use and which shall be able to discharge and take up furthermoisture when passed over the floor. The layer or layers of cellularmaterial, however, have but small mechanical strength and aresucceptable to wear when moist. As beforementioned,

however, with the pad of the present invention, the cellular material isprotected by the layer of synthetic fibre, and hence the failures of thecellular material in the aforementioned connection do not affect theefficiency of the mop pad. Finally, the other outer layer of plasticsmaterial completely insulates against bacteria and moisture between thelayer of cellular material and the holder and between the hands of theuser when the pad is removed from the holder. The tensile and tearstrength of the pad is also considerably increased by the plasticsfilms, this increased strength being of particular importance when thepad is folded around the holder and secured thereto. It is alsoimportant that the pad is strong enough to resist wear when rubbedagainst the floor. It is also important that the pad is strong enough toremain in position at its point of attachment to the holder. A furtheradvantage afforded by the plastics films is that it can be used toretain the moisture in the pad when the mop pad is stored. Asbeforementioned, the pad is preferably moistened with awax-wateremulsion, whereafter the pad is folded double and the plasticsfilm forms a partially open casing around the cellular material. Thecasing is highly efficient in preserving the moisture in the mop pad,this preserving effect being still greater when a number of padsaccording to the invention are folded double and packed together in ahermetically sealed carrier bag of plastics foil material. It has beenfound in practice, that mop pads constructed in accordance with theinvention retain their moisture content at room temperature forapproximately one week subsequent to the bag being opened.

According to a preferred embodiment of the mop pad according to theinvention, the body of cellular material is divided into two layerswhich overlap each other and which are narrower than the width of thepad, the two layers of cellular material being attached to respectivelongitudinal edges of the pad. By means of this arrangement, thegreatest thickness of the cellular material is obtained at the centreportion of the pad, where the properties of the cellular material shallbe utilized, while only a single layer of cellular material is locatedat the edge portions of the pad, where the layers of cellular materialare attached and fixed in position relative the layer of synthetic fibreand plastics film. The edge portions of the pad are thus somewhatthinner than the centre portion of the pad, whereby a higher degree ofsmoothness is obtained when folding the pad about the edges of theholder and attaching the pad thereto.

The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings, other features of and advantages associated withthe invention being apparent therefrom.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 illustrates a pad holder on which a mop pad is intended to beattached,

FIG. 2 illustrates the pad when unfolded,

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view through the line 33 in FIG. 2,

FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate the manufacture of the preferred embodiment ofthe pad,

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view of another embodiment of thepad holder, and

FIG. 8 is an end view thereof.

The pad 10 is adapted to be mounted on any form of pad holder, such as amop assembly including a mop handle 1, pad holder base 2, fastener means(not shown) being provided to grip the marginal edges of the pad andmaintain the latter over a resilient pressure pad 3 fixed to the loweredge of the base 2. The mop assembly forms no part of the presentinvention and it will be readily recognized that many suitable forms ofassemblies are known.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the reference numeral illustrates a mop padcomprising two outer layers 12, I4 having about the same width as thepad in its entirety, and two narrower overlapping intermediate layers16, 18, which at one edge thereof coincide with respective edges of thepad. The other edge of the intermediate layer is free. The dimensions ofthe cloth in the illustrated embodiment are 25 cm. by 60 cm.

The outer layer 12 comprises a layer of synthetic fibre material, suchas non-woven rayon, having a gram weight of l525/m The layer 12 is thusmoisture resistant and moisture permeable and is pre-moistened with aliquid as before mentioned. Thus, the layer 12 serves as a thin,dust-collecting protective layer for the two intermediate layers 16, 18which comprise a cellular material having a gram weight of 15-25/m andwhich absorb moisture and store the moisture therein.

As will be seen from FIG. 3, the width of the layers of cellularmaterial 16, 18 is approximately three quarters the width of the pad,which means that the centre portion of the pad formed by the overlappingportions of the cellular material layers 16, 18 will be relativelythick, while the edge portions of the pad have one layer less and aretherefore thinner and easier to fold.

The width of the layers of cellular material 16, 18 is suitably twothirds to four fifths the total width of the pad.

The second outer layer 14 comprises a film of plastics material, such aspolyethylene, and serves to repel moisture and to insulate againstbacteria. The layer also enhances the overall mechanical strength of thepad. As previously mentioned, it has been found in practice that the padof the present invention when doubled in a premoistened state is able toretain its moisture content over long periods of time, that it canreadily be mounted to the holder of a floor cleaning mop. The pad isparticularly resistant to wear when moved over the floor and canwithstand high tensile forces. It further prevents bacteria from beingtransferred to the housing and it also reduces the risk of transferringbacteria to the hands of the user when a used pad is changed for a newpad.

Premoistened pads constructed in accordance with the invention arestored in stacks of double-folded pads, where the plastic film forms theouter surfaces of the folded pads. A stack normally comprises from to 50mop pads placed in a hermetically sealed plastic bag. The plastic bag isconstructed so as to enable it to be resealed subsequent to beingopened, although the resealing means need not be such as to hermeticallyseal the bag.

In FIG. 4 is shown a portion of a web of plastics film which shall formthe outer layer 14a in the embodiment shown in FIG. 6. A number of gluelines 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 have been applied to the web. The two gluelines 20, 25 are located near the side edges of the web.

In FIG. 5 the two overlapping layers 16a, 18a of moisture absorbingmaterial or a corresponding single layer have been laid upon the layer14a, and on top thereof is the synthetic fiber layer 12a. The plasticsfilm layer. I4a of.FIG. 5 is then folded at its side edge portion aroundthe edges of the layer 12a and sealed therewith by means of the gluelines 20, 25. The layer 18a is secured in its position by being securedto the layer 14a by means of the glue lines 22, 23, 24. The layer 16a issecured to the layer 14a by means of the glue line 21. Thus, there willbe little relative movement of the layers when the pad is used whichmeans that the layers will remain in their most effective positions.

In FIGS. 7 and 8 is shown a holder 26 which is intended to detachablysupport a mop pad or cloth, for example of the type shown in FIGS. 3 or6.

The holder 26 comprises a longitudinal bottom plate 27 which on itsupper side is provided with ridges 28 at the side edges of the plate.

In the side edges of the plate are slots 29, and on the inside of theridges 28 are slots 30.

The holder 26 is made of flexible foam plastics having closed cells. Theslots 29 may be elastically opened to receive the edge portions of a moppad or cloth and clamp them to secure the pad or cloth to the holder asindicated in FIG. 8.

In FIG. 7 is also shown a frame 31 of metal wire which is pivotallycarried by a handle 32. The longitudinal portions 33, 34 of the framemay be easily snapped into the slots 30 of the holder 26. Thus, theholder 26 can easily be detached from the frame 31 and sterilized andmay thereafter be easily mounted to the frame 31 again.

What we claim is:

l. A pad or cloth for cleaning floors comprising a rectangular padmember adapted to be fastened to a holder located at the lower end of ahandle, the pad comprising first and second outer layers and at leastone intermediate layer, said first outer layer which, in use, isintended to abut the floor, being comprised of a sheet of moisturepermeable, wear resistant, synthetic, non-woven fiber, such as a mat ofnon-woven rayon, said second outer layer being comprised of a moistureimpervious film of plastic material, such as polyethylene, saidintermediate layer comprising cellular material, a dust binding liquidcarried by said intermediate layer and adapted to be discharged throughsaid first outer layer to floor surfaces when said floor surface andfirst layer are brought into contact so as to bind dust to the liquidand surface of said first layer, said second outer layer being sealed tothe edges of said first layer, said intermediate layer being secured tosaid second layer by a number of mutually spaced, longitudinallyextending glue lines at spaced transverse positions between theextremities of said intermediate layer to prevent displacement of saidintermediate layer relative to said second outer layer, saidintermediate layer being comprised of first and second discrete sheets,one said sheet extending from a position immediately adjacent a saidmarginal edge of said pad across the longitudinal center line of saidpad member, the second said discrete sheet extending from the oppositemarginal edge of said pad across the longitudinal center line, the widthof said sheets being less than the width of said pad whereby there isdefined a double thickness of said sheets in a central area of said padand a single thickness of said sheets adjacent said marginal edges, saidlongitudinally extending glue lines bonding said second outer layer tothe one of said discrete sheets of said intermediate layer nearest saidsecond outer layer to prevent relative shifting movement between saidone of said discrete sheets and said second outer layer.

1. A PAD OR CLOTH FOR CLEANING FLOORS COMPRISING A RECTANGULAR PADMEMBER ADAPTED TO BE FASTENED TO A HOLDER LOCATED AT THE LOWER END OF AHANDLE, THE PAD COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND OUTER LAYERS AND AT LEASTONE INTERMEDIATE LAYER, SAID FIRST OUTER LAYER WHICH, IN USE IS INTENDEDTO ABOUT THE FLOOR, BEING COMPRISED OF A SHEET OF MOISTURE PERMEABLE,WEAR RESISTANT, SYNTHETIC, NON-WOVEN FIBER, SUCH AS A MAT OF NON-WOVENRAYON, SAID SECOND OUTER LAYER BEING COMPRISED OF A MOISTURE IMPERVIOUSFILM OF PLASTIC MATERIAL, SUCH AS POLYETHYLENE, SAID INTERMEDIATE LAYERCOMPRISING CELLULAR MATERIAL, A DUST BINDING QUID CARRIED BY SAIDINTERMEDIATE LAYER AND ADAPTED TO BE DISCHARGED THROUGH SAID FIRST OUTERLAYER TO FLOOR SURFACES WHEN SAID FLOOR SURFACE AND FIRST LAYER AREBROUGHT INTO CONTACT SO AS TO BIND DUST TO THE LIQUID AND SURFACE OFSAID FIRST LAYER, SAID SECOND OUTER LAYER BEING SEALED TO THE EDGES OFSAID FIRST LAYER, SAID INTERMEDIATE LAYER BEING SECURED TO SAID SECONDLAYER BY A NUMBER OF MUTUALLY SPACED, LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING GLUELINES AT SRPACED TRANSVERSE POSITIONS BETWEEN THE EXTREMITIES OF SAIDINTERMEDIATE LAYER TO PREVENT DISPLACEMENT OF SAID INTERMEDIATE LAYERRELATIVE TO SAID SECOND OUTER LAYER, SAID INTERMEDIATE LAYER BEINGCOMPRISED OF FIRST AND SECOND DISCRETE SHEETS, ONE SAID SHEET EXTENDINGFROM A POSITION IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT A SAID MARGINAL EDGE OF SAID PADACROSS THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE OF SAID PAD MEMBER, THE SECOND SAIDDISCRETE SHEET EXTENDING FROM THE OPPOSITE MRGINAL EDGE OF SAID PADACROSS THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER LINE, THE WIDTH OF SAID SHEETS BEING LESSTHAN THE WIDTH OF SAID PAD WHEREBY THERE IS DEFINED A DOUBLE THICKNESSOF SAID SHEETS IN A CENTRAL AREA OF SAID PAD AND A SINGLE THICKNESS OFSAID SHEETS ADJACENT SAID MARGINAL EDGES, SAID LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDINGGLUE LINES BONDING SAID SECOND OUTER LAYER TO THE ONE OF SAID DISCRETESHEETS OF SAID INTERMEDIAT LAYER NEAREST SAID SECOND OUTER LAYER TOPREVENT RELATIVE SHIFTING MOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID ONE OF SAID DISCRETESHEETS AN SAID SECOND OUTER LAYER.